Photo credit: @NBA

By Jessica Kwong

The Sacramento Kings rallied in an early game Saturday—starting at 9 a.m. PST—to beat the worst team in the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks, at Madison Square Garden.

Sacramento beat New York 102-94, led by De’Aaron Fox’s 30 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists. It was not an easy win, with the Knicks dominating with energy to start and leading by as many as 15 points in the first quarter. The Kings were able to cut the Knicks’ lead to 30-23 by the end of the quarter and kept the home team to 16 points in the second quarter and ended the half up 48-46.

The game was tied at 68 points with three-and-a-half minutes left in the third quarter. Sacramento’s Buddy Hield then scored 5 points and the Kings went on a 12-0 run and took a 80-68 lead at the end of the third.

But in the final period, the Knicks went on a 11-0 run and captured a 89-87 lead halfway through. In the last six minutes, Fox made 12 points, including two triples, to take the victory.

“It was a gritty win for us,” Kings head coach Dave Joerger said. “It wasn’t always pretty, but we’re happy to get out with a win.”

Hield scored 19 points and 4 rebounds, Nemanja Bjelica had 13 points and 10 rebounds and Harrison Barnes had 11 points and 8 rebounds.

The Kings are now 33-32 and ninth in the western conference, behind the San Antonio Spurs, who have a track record of pulling through.

Joerger acknowledged that his team may not make the playoffs, but gave the players props for how far they’ve come and how Sacramento has embraced them.

“It does feel good because we’re not where we’re going to be, we’re not where we want to be, but we sure are having fun,” Joerger said. “We’re developing players and guys are getting along great and it’s just a really good vibe, and the city of Sacramento’s on fire right now and we’re having a great time.”

The Kings continue their four-game road trip on Monday against the Washington Wizards. Tip-off is at 4 p.m. PST.